ReelBob: ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is a messy, enjoyable place-setter for the launch of Marvel’s Phase V movies.

The film is a wild superhero adventure that often feels derivative, with scenes, terrains and characters seemingly inspired by the cantina sequence in “Star Wars” and Disney’s recent “Strange World.”

And, as in many of these films, family issues — in this case, a father-daughter conflict between Scott Lang-Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and his daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton) — help move the story.

The movie accomplishes two goals: it delivers a lively but sometimes clunky story, and it introduces a notable Marvel villain, Kang the Conqueror, who will play a major role in future Marvel Cinematic Universe features.

The domineering performance in “Quantumania” is Jonathan Majors as Kang. He is ruthless, maniacal and sorrowful, thirsting for revenge on the entire multiverse.

Yep, the multiverse, which will continue to be a thread that runs through the MCU for years to come.

It seems Kang was exiled to the Quantum Realm by his other, more powerful iterations. So, with many alternate Kangs roaming throughout the multiverse, Marvel has a villain who can return and return and … well, you get it.

Thus, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is simply the first movie in which Kang will square off against other Marvel heroes.

Peyton Reed, who directed the first two “Ant-Man” movies mostly keeps a light touch, abetted by Rudd’s performance as the ordinary guy turned superhero-Avenger.

As “Quantumania” opens, Lang is living the celebrity, good life in San Francisco, being hailed for helping save mankind, writing a best-selling book and trying to be a good single dad to his rebellious teenage daughter.

The first act sets up the sitcom-like family dynamics of Lang, Cassie, Lang’s girlfriend, Hope Van Dyne, a k a, The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), her mother, Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her father, scientist-inventor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas).

But soon, the quintet is sucked into the Quantum Realm. Here, the script by Jeff Loveness, plays “Twister” with the dynamics of both the individual story and the needs of future projects that will include Kang.

The movie veers into “Star Wars” territory with a motley band of rebels trying to overthrow the tyranny of Kang. But the humor Loveness infuses into his script keeps “Quantumania” from taking itself too seriously.

Despite some flaws, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is a joy ride. Because it does not take itself too seriously, you won’t either, which is the best way to experience this latest Marvel adventure.

Among the supporting players, Pfeiffer’s role is the meatiest. She spent 30 years in the Quantum Realm and, upon returning to Earth, kept much of what happened to her there from her family.

She and Kang have a prior connection in which he blames her for betraying him.

The film offers some rather odd moments, One featuring Bill Murray as Lord Krylar, a Kang subordinate, — is not only strange but uncomfortable. The other features the return of Corey Stoll as Darren Cross, the villain of the original “Ant-Man,” as another Kang minion, M.O.D.O.K. For both, the movie is not their finest hour.

And the script also is a bit sloppy when it comes to Kang. Supposedly, because he is “timeless,” as he says, he has the capability of seeing all futures and forseeing all scenarios. Of course, the filmmakers find a way around those circumstances.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” gets too hokey and cartoonish, especially dealing with some of the lesser characters in the Quantum Realm. When ants have to help save the day, you know you are in the realm of superhero silly.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA

2 1/2 stars out of 4

(PG-13), violence, action, language